A dramatic, economical, and fast smile boost with dental bonding

You can enter the office of Douglas Hoppe DDS, Eaton Rapids, Michigan, with stubbornly stained, gapped, chipped, and otherwise “imperfect teeth” and leave with a set of white, evenly-spaced, and beautifully-balanced teeth. How can this be possible? The “magic” is in dental bonding. Not only can bonding be completed in one visit, but it does not cost you a fortune. In fact, bonding is considered an economical, tooth-preserving, conservative, and painless alternative to porcelain veneers to dramatically enhance the smile’s appearance. For this reason, bonding is also known as “direct veneers,” whereas porcelain veneers are called “indirect veneers.” 

The process 

As its name suggests, direct veneers involve directly applying a dental material to the front surfaces of teeth that have sustained cosmetic imperfections, such as:

• Wear and tear 
• Poor shape 
• Uneven spacing 
• Short or worn-down teeth 

Dr. Hoppe prepares a composite resin material. So, it blends in with the color and other characteristics of the rest of the tooth and the surrounding teeth. With direct veneers or bonding, no tooth structure (enamel) is removed. Instead, the tooth is slightly abraded and conditioned to ensure the strongest bond with the composite. Dr. Hoppe’s artistry really shines as he molds the pliable resin material to cover up the chip, excess space, or other cosmetic concerns. Once the desired result is achieved, Dr. Hoppe hardens the putty-like resin to the tooth. The tooth is polished, and our patients smile proudly! 

Before & After Results

• Patient was unhappy with the crookedness and appearance of the crown on her upper right maxillary central incisor and overall appearance of her upper front teeth. The crown on #8 was an older porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown with the metal from the crown visible. The crown on #8 was crooked and too wide and not symmetrical to the natural tooth next to it.
• Bonding was performed on tooth #9 to widen the appearance of #9 and give symmetry to her upper front 2 teeth (teeth #8 & #9). A new all porcelain/ceramic crown was placed on tooth #8 replacing the old porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown on #8.
• Patient was very happy with the final result. The bonding and the crown preparation were completed in the first visit and the patient wore a temporary crown for 2 weeks. On the second visit (2 weeks later) the temporary crown was removed and the lab fabricated all porcelain crown on tooth #8 was cemented into place. Final photos were also taken on the second visit.

• Patient was unhappy with the crookedness and appearance of the crown on her upper right maxillary central incisor and overall appearance of her upper front teeth. The crown on #8 was an older porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown with the metal from the crown visible. The crown on #8 was crooked and too wide and not symmetrical to the natural tooth next to it.
• Bonding was performed on tooth #9 to widen the appearance of #9 and give symmetry to her upper front 2 teeth (teeth #8 & #9). A new all porcelain/ceramic crown was placed on tooth #8 replacing the old porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown on #8.
• Patient was very happy with the final result. The bonding and the crown preparation were completed in the first visit and the patient wore a temporary crown for 2 weeks. On the second visit (2 weeks later) the temporary crown was removed and the lab fabricated all porcelain crown on tooth #8 was cemented into place. Final photos were also taken on the second visit.

• Patient presented with gaps between her maxillary lateral incisors and central incisors that made her feel self conscious. The lateral incisors were peg shaped and did not have normal shape or appearance. Pt. was not interested in orthodontics to correct. Bonding was presented as a treatment option and an alternative to orthodontic treatment.
• Composite bonding was performed on teeth #’s: 7-10 to widen the teeth in appearance and close the gaps she was unhappy with.
• The patient was ecstatic with the final result. The entire procedure took ~ 90 minutes and was able to be done without any anesthesia

• Patient presented with gaps between her maxillary lateral incisors and central incisors that made her feel self conscious. The lateral incisors were peg shaped and did not have normal shape or appearance. Pt. was not interested in orthodontics to correct. Bonding was presented as a treatment option and an alternative to orthodontic treatment.
• Composite bonding was performed on teeth #’s: 7-10 to widen the teeth in appearance and close the gaps she was unhappy with.
• The patient was ecstatic with the final result. The entire procedure took ~ 90 minutes and was able to be done without any anesthesia

• Patient presented with a gap between his left lateral incisor (tooth #10 and left canine (tooth #11) that he was unhappy with. The left lateral incisor was peg shaped and did not have a normal shape or appearance.
• Composite bonding was performed on tooth #10 to widen the tooth in appearance and close the gap he was unhappy with.
• The patient was pleased with the final result. The entire procedure took ~ 40 minutes and was able to be done without any anesthesia.

View More Results

Schedule your consultation today!

During your appointment, Dr. Hoppe may discuss alternatives to bonding. For instance, porcelain or indirect veneers may be preferred – even though they are more expensive and require at least two visits and the removal of some natural tooth structure. Both types of veneers are generally used to correct the same cosmetic concerns; however, porcelain veneers are made in an outside lab. The material is not directly applied to the tooth. To ensure the veneer fits the tooth properly, minimal enamel is removed. For many patients, the additional investment of time and money is worth it. Porcelain imitates the appearance and durability of natural tooth enamel exceptionally well. Plus, porcelain is known to resist stains. So, you enjoy a natural smile boost that lasts for many years. 

Call (517) 667-7066 to reach the office of Douglas Hoppe DDS. Our Eaton Rapids, MI team welcomes your questions and looks forward to meeting you!